Improvement in flumes



2 sheets-sheet 1.

R. H. CAMPBELL.

Flume.

No. 201,326. Patented March 19,1878..

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R. H. CAMPBELL.

Flume No. 201,326. Patnted lV larch 19,1878.

WITNIEEEEE INVENTDR mmmmu w. mu (9/3 m h/4M M M PETERS,PHOTO-LITHOGRAPHER. WASHINGTON. D C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

REMEMBBANCE H. CAMPBELL, OF RED BLUFF, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOB OF ONE-HALFHIS RIGHT TO NORTON P. GHIPMAN, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN FLUMES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 201,326, dated March19, 1878; application filed August 18, 1877.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, REMEMBRANGE H. CAMPBELL,of Red Bluff, in the county of Tehama and State of California, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Flumes; and I do herebydeclare that the following is a full, clear, and exact descriptionthereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to whichitappertains to make and use the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon,which form a part ,of this specification.

This invention has relation to fiumes for carrying lumber; and thenovelty consists in mechanical means and devices for turning lumber ortimber out of the main flume into a branch flume without disturbing therunning of the flume, as will be hereinafter more fully setforth.

' In operating fiumes for running lumber, trouble very often occurs bythe bunching of the lumber, which bunches increase in size until theyfinally stop the fiumeway, and make a jam, thereby necessitating thelumber to be thrown out to relieve the jam, and the removed lumber beagain put into the flume, piece by piece. These jams sometimes break theflume, and always break the lumber more or less, and cause serious delayand expense. These difficulties are designed to be overcome by myinvention.

Figure 1 of the drawings represents a perspective view of my improvementapplied to V-shaped fiumes. Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the same,taken on the line a: m, Fig. 1.

In the accompanying drawings, the letterA designates the combinedV-shaped fiumes, (the main and branch flumes,) supported on suitableframe-work B. The main flume A is provided with a switch or branchflume, O, which is of the same height as the main one, and runs alongwith it, side by side, a greater or less distance, as circumstances mayrequire, as shown in the drawings. At the junction of the fiumes isarranged or placed a switch or separator, D, attached to thedividing-partition E by means of staples and hooks a, or theirequivalents, forming a hinged connection, so that the switch can beeasily thrown to the right or to the left, to make the necessarycommunication with either of the fiumes A or 0, whenever bunching of thelumber is about to take place, or has actually taken place. By means ofthis switch D, with a suitable handle, b, in connection with the fiumesabove mentioned, I am enabled to switch the lumber out of the main flumeand turn it into the branch flume, from which it is either thrown backover the side of the branch flume into the main flume, or is passed backby the board into the main flume through the mouth of the branch, whichconnects with the main flume. By replacing the switch or separator toits original condition, the lumber will continue to pass through themain flume regardless of that turned into the branch flume. The letter Hrepresents walk-planks or platforms on each side of the flume, forconvenience of handling the lumber and operating the switch.

I do not wish to confine my invention to the specific constructionherein shown, as said construction can be varied without departing fromthe spirit of the invention by those skilled in the art to which itappertains.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-

1. A main flume provided with a branch or switch flume, substantially asand for the purpose herein set forth.

2. The combination of a main flume, abranch flume, and a separator,operated substantially as described, and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have affixed mysignature in pres ence of two witnesses.

REMEMBRANOE H. CAMPBELL. Witnesses:

A. J. Looms, H. O. HUGHES.

